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Disc-Brake Conversion

Photography by Ernie Macias

Mini Truckin', October 01, 2007

An easy and overlooked modification in the minitruck world is the rear disc brake conversion. What made our conversion so easy is the fact that Downey Off-Road Manufacturing-a popular company with all of you dirt junkies-makes a bolt-on kit for Toyota trucks. Now, being a Mighty Max guy, I never really thought about this conversion. However, because we converted STK TRUK to five-lugs by using a Toyota pickup rear-end, the rear-disc conversion was the next obvious step. After a quick phone call to the friendly staff at Downey, my brakes were on their way. The installation was very easy and straightforward. It took less than an hour, and the hardest part was taking off the dust plates. We definitely recommend this product to all the minitruckers out there with Toyota rear-ends. How can you argue when you see the awesome looks this product has to offer?

1. When the product arrived, we were pretty anxious to open it and see what was inside. We weren't disappointed with the looks and craftsmanship of the parts.

1. When the product arrived, we were pretty anxious to open it and see what was inside. We

2. Here's a really good look at everything that came packed into our box. The only thing you don't see here are the spacers that were also included.

2. Here's a really good look at everything that came packed into our box. The only thing y

3. The obvious place to start was by removing the drums and all of the brake components; we won't be needing this junk anymore. We also removed the dust shield, which wasn't an easy task. We cut it off by using about seven tools in the shop, but eventually we did get it off.

3. The obvious place to start was by removing the drums and all of the brake components;

4. Next, we removed the nuts holding the axles in place and removed them carefully. Again, the reason we removed the axles was to remove the dust shields off more easily.

4. Next, we removed the nuts holding the axles in place and removed them carefully. Again,

5.

6. Once the dust shield and brakes were scrapped, we put our axles back into place and used the new bolts provided, along with a few of the old bolts. Once we placed our new caliper brackets into place, we realized one of the old bolts would need to be cut down for clearance.

6. Once the dust shield and brakes were scrapped, we put our axles back into place and use

7. Once our bolt was cut and the proper spacers were in place we tightened down our new brackets.

7. Once our bolt was cut and the proper spacers were in place we tightened down our new br

8. These pictures give you a good glimpse at our cut-down bolt and spacer, when it was in place. We trimmed it down to the nut, to give us good clearance because it is a tight fit.

8. These pictures give you a good glimpse at our cut-down bolt and spacer, when it was in

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10. We used our supplied spacer to center our rotor

11. Now, we placed our rotor into place and stood back and admired it for a minute. Man, that looks great.

11. Now, we placed our rotor into place and stood back and admired it for a minute. Man, t

12. Here, we slid our caliper into place and realized we were having a great day.

13. We placed our Allen head bolts into place, then ensured that our bleeder valves were placed on top.

13. We placed our Allen head bolts into place, then ensured that our bleeder valves were

14. Using an Allen wrench, we tightened our calipers snugly into place.

15. Here it is, the finished product-sans the brake lines. The kit supplies an awesome brake-line kit, which we weren't ready to install yet.

15. Here it is, the finished product-sans the brake lines. The kit supplies an awesome bra

16. While sitting back and admiring this awesome setup, we wondered why we hadn't done this before.

16. While sitting back and admiring this awesome setup, we wondered why we hadn't done thi

17. Once we put our 18-inch rims into place, we noticed we had great clearance.

18. Even though our wheels aren't very open, you can still see the disc brakes through them...Let the school bells ring, school is in session.

18. Even though our wheels aren't very open, you can still see the disc brakes through the